How to create a French-style home

Mix generous armchairs with classic occassional chairs in the living room. Prop up gilt-framed mirrors against the wall for an informal feel and pull the whole scheme together with a textured rug. Use a giant clock to make a focal point above the mantelpiece and choose cushions with a hint of gold for added glamour.

If this is the look for you, don’t miss our shabby chic decorating ideas.

Opt for ornate bedlinen

To add detail in a white bedroom, dress the bed with layers of lace, fringed throws and heaps of crisp, broderie Anglais-edged pillowcases. Blend white with white in a chateau-style bedroom by layering textures – for example, crunchy crocheted cotton over smooth bedlinen.

Frame a window with shutters and blinds

Sew a homemade blind using an outsized gilded print on a linen ground. Check out our guide to creating your own ribbon blind. Complete the look with a pair of vintage shutters and a selection of linen and velvet cushions.